Traffic wardens in Lancashire have now been issued with body cameras – for their own protection, not for recording car details.

The cameras, worn by parking enforcement officers since mid-February, record constantly while officers are on duty to deter anyone from attacking them, following 10 incidents of abuse in Lancashire last year.

Data from the cameras is stored securely for a short time before being deleted and can be downloaded and used in evidence if necessary.

County Coun. John Fillis, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our parking enforcement officers do a very valuable job and these digital cameras will help to keep them safe by deterring the small minority of people who subject them to physical attack or verbal attack.

“Parking restrictions are vital to keep our roads safe and ensure people can find somewhere to park their car in busy areas.

“I’m very grateful that we have a dedicated team of enforcement officers, and I hope the body cameras help them feel safer doing what, unfortunately, is sometimes a difficult job.

“Other councils have already found these cameras to be very useful.

“The information collected by the cameras is not used to enforce parking but can be passed to the police to use in evidence if one of our officers is attacked.”

Police issued an appeal for witnesses after a traffic warden was racially abused by two men in a street in Clitheroe.

The pair shouted racist remarks at the Asian traffic warden as he went about his work.

PC Justin Brown said: “This was absolutely unacceptable behaviour which has left the victim feeling very upset.”